This recipe was inspired by my basic vanilla buttercream frosting. A super simple, 4 ingredient recipe which is easy to follow and always tastes delicious. It’s probably one of my favourite cake toppings! But I wanted to make something that everyone could enjoy. Whether they have a dairy intolerance, an allergy or follow a vegan diet, and that’s where this recipe comes in.
To get the perfect vegan buttercream frosting I just swapped out a few ingredients. Regular unsalted butter for a dairy free, plant based alternative and a dairy free milk alternative. Any dairy free milk will work, just try to avoid one that it is too oily (for example a ‘barista style’ milk). The rest of the recipe is exactly the same.
Start by beating the butter in a bowl until creamy. Then add the icing sugar in two batches, lightly stirring before each addition to prevent an icing sugar ‘cloud’, adding in the milk with the second batch of icing sugar. Next, add the vanilla paste. I always recommend adding paste over liquid. I find that it has a better taste and consistency when baking or using in any recipes.
Don’t worry about over mixing, you want it well mixed, ensuring that the icing is nice and smooth. This recipe is thick enough to be able to hold its own shape and is completely pipeable. Alternatively, you can add a tablespoon on top of the cake and use a butter knife or spatula to ‘smear’ on top of the cake.
As dairy free butter is often made with more plant-based oil, the icing will normally come out pale, or white in colour.
It’s easy to follow, simple to make and tastes delicious! You would never even guess that is a dairy free and gluten free, vegan recipe. Simply add on top of your favourite dairy free or vegan bake and enjoy!
Ingredients
- 3 oz / 85 g Unsalted Butter (Dairy Free)
- 6 oz / 170 g Icing Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dairy Free Milk
- ¼ teaspoon Vanilla Paste
Instructions
- Bring the unsalted butter to room temperature
- Add the butter to a mixing bowl and using an electric mixer, blend until creamy
- Add half of the sieved icing sugar and milk to the bowl and using a spoon, gently stir together until just combined (this helps to prevent an icing sugar explosion!), before mixing with the electric mixer
- Add the remaining icing sugar and follow the steps above, do not be afraid to overmix, you want this to be nice and smooth
- Add the vanilla paste and thoroughly mix through
- When everything is blended and smooth, apply to your cooled cake. This icing is thick enough to pipe if desired or can be placed on top of the cake in your chosen design
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